Photos from Turkmenistan

I’m still not sure what made this trip so impactful. It felt far far away and very different. I had lots of time to travel alone on either end of my tour, walking 30k steps a day trying to figure out how life ticked. Even after lots of processing and reflection I’m not sure my words or photos will be able to fully explain it what I saw and learned.

Turkmenistan is a land locked Central Asian country of 7 million, 80% of which is desert. It’s situated on the Silk Road and thus for thousands of years it has been traversed and influenced by traders and the world’s great conquerers, including Alexander the Great and Ghengis Kahn, then controlled by Russia and later the Soviet Union. It’s been tightly ruled since its independence from the USSR by three extremely authoritarian leaders.

Today it’s one of the least visited countries in the world. The country has ample wealth because it sits on the fourth largest reserves of natural gas and the wealth has been used to build one of the most unusual places I’ve ever been, often using white Italian marble to clearly project grandeur. My 8 day visit to this largely unknown place was fascinating and full of surprises.

Click HERE to see my full set of pictures from Turkmenistan

Visiting Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

This trip really touched me. Perhaps it was the fascinating totally differentness of the place. I also think it was having so many days to wander off the grid, lost in my thoughts, focusing on discovery and nurturing my curiosity. Whatever it was it definitely reignited my love of travel again. Posting this final batch of pictures, closes the trip. That makes me a little sad. I’ve been enjoying looking at the pictures, processing, researching and reading more and just wallowing in travel zen, but onward, so here you go!

More NYC Public Realm Improvements

ust in time for summer, NYC opened a new section of the new East River Park on the Lower East Side. New green space, picnic and BBQ areas, and basketball and tennis courts are part of the $1.45 Billion East Side Coastal Resiliency Project that raised the land by 8-10 feet to protect New Yorkers from future coastal storms and tidal flooding. It’s really beautiful.

Exploring NYC's Public Realm Improvements

I’ve been trying to catch up on New York City’s new public realm improvements. Yesterday that meant walking the north end of Hudson River Park where last fall they opened Pier 97 at 57th Street. The project turned a former docking pier and parking lot into 2.5 acres of public open space, complete with a playground, athletic field, and sloping sun lawn. They even have a granite slide at the end that I whizzed down. Well done Hudson River Park Trust!